Generator burner with snap action control



Jan. 3, 1950 J. L. BREEsE 2,493,474

GENERATOR BURNER WITH SNAP ACTION CQNTROL Filed May 8,l 1944 yey"J'dweasi, reese Patented Jan. 3, 195o GENERATOR BURNER WITH SNAII ACTIONONTROL James L. Breese, Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Breese Burners, Inc., Santa Fe, N. Mex., a corporationof Delaware Application May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,558

7 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in generator type burners and hasfor one purpose to provide improved means for controlling the fuelsupply to such burners.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for controlling the fuelsupply to burners in general, where it is desired to maintain a storageor fuel supply member separate from but connected to a main source ofliquid fuel supply.

Another purpose is to provide means for varying the flow of liquid fuelfrom a supply container to a receiving container in response tovariations in the level of the liquid fuel in the receiving container.

Another purpose is to provide an improved iioat chamber for liquid fuelburners. i

Another purpose is to provide an improved float chamber and floatcontrolled operating means for the supply valves controlling the flow ofliquid to a tank.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for obtaining a quick orsnap action of a movable valve member controlling the inflow of liquidto a tank.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are partial vertical sections through variant forms ofmy invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

My invention has been shown as applying to a generator type burner, butit will be understood that while this may be a preferred use, myinvention is also applicable to other types of burners or to tanks forthe storage or dispensation o of liquids other than liquid fuels.

Referring first to Fig. l:

I generally indicates a tank having a cover 2 and an intermediate wall 3dividing the tank into two separate spaces which are connected by anysuitable clearance or aperture 4. The righthand tank, as shown at A,constitutes a generator chamber for a generator type burner. Iillustrate, for example, an outer air tube 5 having longitudinal slots6, and an inner air tube 1 which is provided with slots, not shown indetail, and which may be rotated by the handle 8. The tubes 5 and 1 areopen at the top and air may flow downwardly through the tube landinwardly through the slots 6 to a generator space A. It will beunderstood that the tubes 5 and 1 together constitute a shuttermechanism for admitting a variable supply of air to the interior of thegenerator chamber.

In generator burners of'this type, a generator flame or fire ismaintained in the generator chamber and ...r'ves to vaporize liquid fuelwhich is burned in the burner, which will later be described. In themechanism of Fig. l, the vaporized liquid fuel rises upwardly throughthe pipe I Il, which surrounds the upward extension of the air inlettubes 5 and 1. It passes thence through the arm I to the interior of thehorizontally axised pot I of primary air inlets I3 located at variousdistances from the closed bottom or end of the pot. Adjacent the openend of the pot is a single row of secondary air inlet apertures I4. Theotherwise open end of the pot is partially closed by the ring I5, withits central aperture I6. I1 indicates an outer skirt or housing having alarge inlet aperture I8, through which the fuel inlet arm II extends.

After vaporizing combustion has been initiated in the generator orvaporizing chamber A, the vaporized fuel flows into the pot I2, where itreceives primary air through the apertures I3. The mixture of air andvaporized fuel thus formed receives its secondary air supply throughairinlets Il, and at the high fire stage burns near the secondary airinlets I4 and the iiame ring aperture I8. 'I'he rate of combustion iscontrolled by controlling the rate of vaporization. This, in turn, iscontrolled by controlling the rate of inflow of air downwardly along thetube 1 and through the slots 6.

The length of the slot 8 permits my burner to operate through a widefluctuation in the level of the fuel within the tank I. However, it isdesirable to limit this fluctuation to a reasonably small range. Aliquid fuel is supplied to the tank I along the fuel pipe 25, which,through an angle fitting 28, delivers fuel downwardly past' a valve seat21 and a movable valve member 28. The valve fitting includes adownwardly open cylinder 29. The valve member 28 has a downwardlyextending plunger 38 and a spring abutment 3|. The spring 32 iscompressed between the abutment 3| and the valve fitting adjacent orsurrounding the valve seat 21. The plunger 30 is adapted to abut againstthe float lever 33, pivoted,

as at 3l, to any suitable bracket 35. 36 indicates a float adapted tocontrol the movement of the lever 33, and thus to control the positionof the valve stem or plunger 30, the lever 33 has a bell crank lever arm31, which is shown as notched, as at 38, and is in a toggle relationshipwith the arm 39 which is pivoted, as at 40, to the bracket 35. Il is aspring which tends to hold the arm 39 over center. In use, when theparts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1, the float 36 is effectiveto hold the valve in the closed position in which it is shown. As thelevel of the fuel drops, the float 38 will tend to fall with it.However. the toggle structure shown will for a time keep it in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

The pot I2 is shown as having a plurality When theme: the fuel :aussufficiently for the weight of the lever 33 and the float 36 to overcomethe .t

spring 4l, then the lever 33 and the float 36 will drop until the floatis again supported on the liquid fuel. The position which the lever 33will drop to will be sufficiently lower than the position in which theparts are shown iin Fig.` l to leave the valve stem or plunger asubstantial distance in which to move. The spring 32 will then move thevalve 28 to wide-open position and more fuel will flow along the pipe25. toggle structure will have 4moved to the opposite side of center,and the float 38 will not at first overcome the force of the spring 4l.1y the level of the fuel is high enough to throw the lever 31 overcenter, there will be a sharp upward movement of the lever 33, whichwill drive the valve 28 back to the fully closed position. I thusprovide an effective snap action control for opening and closing thevalve, to admit or cut on the supply of liquid fuel tothe tank I.

In Figure 2 I illustrate a similar structure save that in the place ofthe toggle mechanism of Figure l, I employ a permanent magnet 50,opposed to the arm 31a of the lever 33a. I thus obtain a snap -action atthe opening of thev valve, because the pull of the magnet 50 has to beovercome. I also obtain a snap action inthe closing of the valve,because when the arm 31a approaches the -magnet 50, its final movement.will be a sharp i structur'eof Figure 1, but I substitute a heat re-However, meanwhile the When i'lnalv sponsive bellows for the float. Iindicate a bracket 55 on the lower arm 56 of which is positioned thethin walled bellows 51, which is connected by A link 58a conlevel of thefuel drops, the bellows 51 becomes ini creasingly subjected to the heatof said combustion. The bellows, therefore, expands andy is shown in`Figure 3 in expanded position. In re,-

sponse to its expansion the lever.v 33h is moved up- 4 wardly and rocksthe valve actuating leverv 33 open position. Y

The form of Figure 4 resembles the form of Figure 3, in that a heatresponsive member is emlf ployed. I illustrate,`for example, a snap discmember 60, which is slightly concave or convex,

and which shifts in response to temperature changes. I illustrate it aspositioned in a circum` ferential abutment 6I supported on any suitable'bracket structure 62. When the level oi' the liquid all forms of thedevice I illustrate a valve cony about its Divot, thus moving the valvestem 30 to rather than as limiting me to my specinc disclosure.- Thereis a slight clearance 15 between the cover 2 and partition wall 3 ineach form oi' device.' That clearance is sumclent to permit air and'gaspassage and equalize the pressure in the generator chamber and in thechamber in which the control mechanism is mounted.

The use andl operation of my invention are as follows: g

In generatortype burners, a generator tank or container is employed inwhich a generating name or combustion is maintained to'vaporize liquidfuel which passes to a zone of combustion after being mixed withvsufficient air to forma fully combustible mixturek It may be convenientand eillcient tov employ a generator chamber of sumcient size to holdliquid fuel suillcient for a relatively long voperation ofthe burner.Under some circumstances, however, it is advantageous to connect thegenerator chamber with a remote source of liquid fuel and to providemeans for maintaining anv adequate supply of liquid fuel in thegenerator chamber.- I therefore illustrate a generator chamber elementI, withan intermediate partition 3, which divides the chamber into agenerator portion' and a float chamber portion. A substantialfluctuation of level is permitted, but the iloat or control structureshown in the various drawings, attached hereto, provide means forcausing the `supply of additional fuel when the level of fuel in thetank approaches the low side, while shutting of! the additional supplyof fuel when the level in the tank reaches a predetermined height.

Referring to Fig. l, I illustrate a simple iloat which, as it raises andlowers, moves the valve member 2 8 out of or into. closedI position. Inorder to insure a snap action, which tends to Iprevent sticking of thevalve, I provide a toggle structure as shown in Fig.l 1. In Fig. 2 Iobtain a similar snap action by vemploying the permanent magnet 50. InFig. 3, I substitute a heat responsive bellows for the oats shown inFigs. l and 2, and in Fig. 4 I employ a heat responsive blmetallicconcavo-convex warping member. In

trol compartment associatedv with the generator chamber and employing.variations in the level i of the fuel in the generator chamber tocontrol the inflow of liquid fuel.

WhereI khave shown my invention as applied to a generator type burner,it will be understood p that my snap action means maybe employed incovers the member yBI and is protected from the heat `of combustion inthe generator chamber A, it is in the valve closing position.controlling the valve by maintaining an` upward thrustagainst the `valvestem 30h. When the level drops and the member is subjected to the heatof com-v bustion, it snaps downwardly and sharply with` draws thevalvestem 30h to the valve opening position. As the member-t0willralways move with asnap action, I thus provide an eilicient snapaction control for actuating the fuel inlet valve.

connection with a wide. variety of uses ywhere a liquid is to beintermittently supplied to a tank in order to compensate for the removalof the contents of the tank.V

I claim:v f

1. In a fuelsupply tank system for vaporizing type burners, a vaporizingchamber, an air inlet y ductextending from the upper portion of thechamber downwardly below the level of fuel in said chamber, a vaporoutlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extendingthereto. partition means between the two chambers y I the vaporizingchamber, a movable valve member mounted in the fuel inlet andcontrolling the ilow of fuel to the fuel inlet chamber, and means in abroad sense illustrative or diagrammatic 73 responsive to variation inthe common level of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving saidvalve member.

2. In a fuel supply tank system for vaporizing type burners, avaporizing chamber, an air inlet duct extending from the upper portionof the chamber downwardlybelow the level of fuel in said chamber, avapor outlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extendingthereto, partition means between the two chambers adapted and disposedto permit air communication between the two chambers above the level ofthe fuel therein, and to maintain liquid communication between the twochambers while shielding the liquid fuel in the fuel inlet chamber fromgenerating combustion taking place in the vaporizing chamber, a movablevalve member mounted in the fuel inlet and controlling the flow of fuelto the fuel inlet chamber, means responsive to variation in the commonlevel of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving said valvemember, and means for imparting a snap action to said valve member,between fully opened and fully closed position.

3. In a fuel supply tank system for vaporizing type burners, avaporizing chamber, an air inlet duct extending from the upper portionof the chamber downwardly below the level of fuel in said chamber, avapor outlet therefor, a fuel inlet chamber, a fuel inlet duct extendingthereto, partition means between the two chambers adapted and disposedto permit air communication between the two chambers above the level ofthe fuel therein, and to maintain liquid communication between the twochambers while shielding the liquidfuel in the fuel inlet chamber fromgenerating combustion taking place in the vaporizing chamber, a movablevalve member mounted in the fuel inlet and controlling the now of fuelto the fuel inlet chamber, means responsive to variation in the commonlevel of the liquid fuel in the two chambers for moving said valvemember, and means for imparting a snap action to said valve member,between fully opened and fully closed position, said means including apermanent magnet, and a metal part opposed thereto.

4. In a fuel supply -means for burners of the vaporizing type, avaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel forvaporization, and having a v'apor outlet, a fuel receiving chamber, incommunication with the Vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive andcontain a supply of liquid fuel having a vcommon level with the liquidfuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to thefuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valvemember therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of theliquid in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out ofclosed position the vapor outlet furnishing the sole path for dischargeof fuel from the generator chamber.

5. In a fuel supply means for burners of thel vaporizing type, avaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel forvaporization, and having a vapor outlet, a fuel receiving chamber, incommunication with the vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive andcontain a supply of liquid fuel having a common level with the liquidfuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to thefuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valvemember therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of theliquid-in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out ofclosed position, including a', float member positioned in the fuel inletchamber the vapor outlet furnishing the `sole path for discharge of fuelfrom the generator chamber.

6. In a fuel supply means for burners ofthe vaporizing type, avaporizing chamber adapted to receive and contain a supply of fuel forvaporization, and having a vapor outlet,and a fuel receiving chamber, incommunication with the vaporizing chamber, adapted to receive andcontain a supply of liquid fuel' having a common level with the liquidfuel in the vaporizing chamber, means for delivering liquid fuel to thefuel receiving chamber, including a supply duct and a movable valvemember therefor, and means responsive to variations in the level of theliquid in the two chambers, for moving said valve member into and out ofclosed position, including means for imparting a snap action to saidvalve member, between fully opened and fully closed position the vaporoutlet furnishing the sole path valve member therefor, and meansresponsive to generator chamber.

JAMES L. BREESE.

REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

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